Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
May 29, 2011
Cons:
None- (unless you count the fact I can't stop raving about Accutane)
This is the only product that worked. I had severe acne for 2 years (I could not touch my face and sitting hurt my bacne was so awful) My doctor informed me we had run out of options. It was Accutane or nothing. In two weeks my skin cleared. I had NO side effects (seriously). I went to Europe on this stuff for two weeks and went without makeup. I pray at the altar of Accutane. Also I have NO SCARRING!!!
April 16, 2009
Pros:
i havent gone on it yet.....my parents are scared about me going on it
Cons:
i had depression and basicly all the symptoms that they say you are gonna have so im kinds scared
i cant wait to go on......im nervous but i know people on it that it has worked well for them......my acne is underskin and somewhat already scarring my face wen i saw the doctor he said you wont get that bad surface acne it will just kill all the stuff under skin so heres's hoping for the best! i have had acne since seventh grade and now im going to be a junior in high skewl so iv had for about 4 years and im tired of wearing so so much makeup where its clearly noticeable... its been a real pain wakin up early to put makeup on or not wanting to sleep over friends im fear of having to wash ur face and them seeing it.im scarred by acne and i just want it gone gone gone
March 6, 2009
Pros:
it should get rid of my acne hopefully!!! i live in UK so ithe treatment was free for me!!!
Cons:
Well I have got really really dry skin on face its really bad worse than having acne. With skin peeling on face and dry lips. Burning skin.
I am on 60 mg each day. My skin is peeling on my face really dry skin and dry lips. I am on my second month but cant's see any difference apart from a new spot!!! My skin gets red and burns. Don't know if it will work for me as I have been trying other tables and lotions, creams and now on this tablet. But nothing ever worked all prescribed by my Doctor around 2 years and finally referred me to the dermatoligists.
April 16, 2012
Pros:
diminished acne
Cons:
dryness of eyes
dryness of skin
redness in cheeks
hair loss
back/joint aches
stomach pains
It is poison. If i could go back, i wouldn't even consider it. while acne may be devastating to ones mental health, taking a cancer patient medication will not solve the problem. Personally, it has ruined my life in more ways than one. While i didn't get depression as notably warned, i developed many harsh side effects that remain to this day. A year after taking accutane, for only two and a half months, i live every day feeling blinded and in pain. I hope to those suffering from acne out there will come to realize that in time it will heal and it's not worth putting your physical health at risk.
December 30, 2011
Pros:
none
Cons:
makes acne worse
causes dry skin
this is the worst drug that i have ever tried to clear up my acne. Though people said that accutane takes some one month to clear up acne completely, the initial breakouts were unbearable. my breakouts were worse than before. I couldn't tolerate it anymore and stopped using accutane.
February 14, 2012
Pros:
Does get rid of your acne
I had no real side effects (individual)
Free on NHS after trying other treatments
Cons:
cracked and dry lips/ dry mucus membranes
Regular blood tests
I relapsed
I didnt understand what this was when i actually took it. i was only 15/16. I was on it for 4 months, and i must say after my course was finished, my skin was wonderful. It stayed almost totally clear and spot free for about 8 months... But i have relapsed. And i now refuse to take it again. I was told this would be a long term solution and it wasnt. I'd only recommend this to people who are in thier 20's still with acne. Because now at 17 im still getting hormonal outbreaks that are bad. I didnt get any side effects from this drug, but after researching it, i'm not keen on taking it again. There are better ways to improve your skin.
-Changing your diet
-doing more excersize
-getting more sleep
-drinking more water
-being as gentle to your skin as possible
-seeing a nutritionist Seriously. If you want your acne gone for life, there is no quick solution. Change your life to change your face. Its what i'm doing now and its working.
May 2, 2010
Pros:
Works for a while...
Cons:
Expensive, and its not a final solution, when i stoped using the product (after 2 years) i lost all my work.
Nothing at all....
November 18, 2011
Pros:
NONE!!!
Cons:
Chapped Lips
Acne getting WORSE
Kidney Failure
Organ Disfunction
Weight Loss
Headache
Neck Pain
Photosensitivity
Dry, cracked skin
Hair loss
Back pain
Exhaustion
Last November I started Accutane to clear up my moderate acne. I began the treatment early November, taking it twice daily. The first three weeks, my skin cleared up significantly. However, my lips were chapped, my skin bled from being so dry, I was exhausted, and my organs ached. I slept with a humidifier at night so I could breathe.
Then Dec. came. I had the most painful headache in the world. It felt like my brain was bleeding and pushing on my skull. I went to the E.R. before a neurologist admitted me into the hospital and said I was in severe condition. After that, my memory is blank. Then I remember waking up in the ICU. After that I remember being transported to another city with a huge medical center and spending three weeks there. I lost a significant amount of weight, my skin was more broken out than ever, my kidney's eventually failed, my organs weren't properly working, I was in excruciating pain, and I might not have made it had it not been for the incredible medical staff. The details of what fully happened to me during my extremely long stay in hospitals would take a few hours to write so I'll leave it at this.. DO NOT TAKE ACCUTANE if you want to stay HEALTHY.
February 12, 2012
Pros:
FINALLY CLEARING ACNE!
Non-oily hair
Non-oily face
Gaining confidence day by day :)
Cons:
Dry lips
Dry skin (body)
Doctor visits
Preggo tests
Blood tests
I'm into my second month now, my doctor increased my dose from 40mg the first month to 60mg my second month (I'm about 126 lbs).
OH MY GOD I'M FINALLYS SEEING RESULTS!! I posted earlier during my 3rd week about how I was getting breakouts, and for the girl below who was asking if it was normal not to see any results after two months, YES it's normal. Everyone is different. Some people will see results in as little as the first week, and others might not see results until the third month. Just talk to your doctor about it, and maybe an increase in dosage is needed for your case. Your face and hair is already non-oily though, so you're getting a positive reaction to the drug. Don't worry though, just perservere through it, and it'll be worth it in the end :)
But yeah, so I'm finally seeing results and it's been a month. The bumps on my skin are flatter, and I haven't gotten a breakout in a while! (I used to get breakouts on a daily basis) All that's left is the redness, which will fade away with time. I can't wait until my 5 months are up :) Good luck to everyone out there who are starting their medication! And to everyone who's about to finish their course with positive results, congratulations!! (ALWAYS REMEMBER TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR HEALTH. IF YOU EXPERIENCE ABNORMAL SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS, STOP THE MEDICATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR)
Peace out peopleee!
October 15, 2006
Pros:
nothing
Cons:
everything
dont take it
Pros:
Cleared my skin in 2 weeks